Topic: Theatre in the Arab World

Refugee performers and their projects

Often refugees on the German stage refugees are still merely authentic narrators of their fate, directed by established German directors. Can they produce their own material and make their own artistic voices heard? By Dorothea MarcusMore

Arab theatre at the Zurich Theaterspektakel

Political theatre from the Arab world five years after the Arabellion: from a country in a permanent vegetative state comes the piece "While I Was Waiting" by the Syrian playwright Mohammad Al Attar. And in "Zig Zig," an Egyptian theatre group headed by Laila Soliman tells the tale of a gang rape. By Susanne SchandaMore

"Queens of Syria" film and theatre project

In ″Queens of Syria″, ancient Greek tales of loss and dislocation in conflict echo through to the contemporary realities of Syrian women refugees, whose experiences of war and exile have often been ignoredMore

Interview with Chen Alon

Chen Alon is a teacher at Tel Aviv University, theatre director and co-founder of the NGO Combatants for Peace. In an interview with Fabian Ebeling he talks about how politics in Israel are affecting the cultural sphere and the work of left-wing organisations More

Jenin's Freedom Theatre celebrates 10 years

Last week, local and international artists and activists converged on the Jenin refugee camp for a week of workshops, talks and performances to mark the 10th anniversary of the Freedom Theatre. A report by Ylenia GostoliMore

Interview with the Egyptian choreographer Adham Hafez

One of the highlights of Berlin's recent Return to Sender theatre festival was a performance of the futuristic piece "2065 BC" by the internationally renowned Egyptian choreographer Adham Hafez. Astrid Kaminski spoke to him about national identities and the arts scene in CairoMore

Art and revolution in the Arab world in 2015

Egypt's Al-Fann Midan (Art is a Public Square) festival, which took place for the first time in April 2011, was one of the most vibrant post-revolutionary spaces for public art in Egypt. But four years after millions of Egyptians took to the streets, the popular festival has disappeared. Marcia Lynx Qualey takes a closer look at the link between art and revolution in Egypt and the Arab world in 2015More

Interview with Nabil Al Raee of the Freedom Theatre

Based in Jenin refugee camp, the Freedom Theatre is one of the few Palestinian cultural institutions that has succeeded in making a name for itself abroad, touring from India to the United States. Ylenia Gostoli caught up with Nabil Al Raee, who directed the Freedom Theatre's first production in 2006 and has been involved ever since. Al Raee, from Al Arroub refugee camp near Hebron, discusses the company's new production and how it fits into the theatre's rich and controversial history of "cultural resistance"More

Culture and censorship in Egypt

Sex, religion and politics are like a red rag to a bull for Egyptian censors. This is particularly worrying for the country's creative artists, who have increasingly been subjected to censorship since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi assumed power. By Elisabeth Lehmann in CairoMore

Interview with the Egyptian theatre director Laila Soliman

In 1919, Saad Zaghloul demanded the independence of Egypt from the British Empire and went down in history as an Egyptian revolutionary. Almost one hundred years later, in 2011, the world watched the 25 January revolution with bated breath. Laura Pannasch spoke to Laila Soliman about her theatre performance "Whims of Freedom", which draws parallels between the two popular uprisingsMore

Interview with the Egyptian theatre director Ahmed el-Attar

Ahmed el-Attar founded the Studio Emad Eddin Foundation (SEE) in 2005. He is also the artistic director of D-Caf, the director of the Falaki Theatre, a producer, theatre director and playwright. In an interview with Barbara Kaufmann, he talks about the importance of having spaces where the arts can be freely explored and practised, about free theatre and about the appeal of contemporary dance in EgyptMore

Protest and culture in Palestine

A recent study by the Arab Studies expert David Kreuer indicates that young Palestinians do not view engaging in armed struggle as the first option when it comes to putting up resistance to Israel. By Joseph Croitoru More

Book review: Uri Shani's "Nemashim" theatre project

In his book, the Israeli theatre director and drama teacher Uri Shani describes the ups and downs of an Arab–Hebrew community theatre project known as "Nemashim". Julie Schwannecke read the book and spoke with the authorMore

The Palestinian Circus School

Pupils at the Palestinian Circus School don't just learn how to somersault and juggle, their training gives them the chance to transform their negative energy into self-confidence, creativity and hope – no mean feat in a country where children and young people have to cope with the harsh realities of violence and military occupation. Laura Overmeyer paid the school a visitMore

Tunisian Theatre Director Fadhel Jaibi

In his first play since the overthrow of Ben Ali two years ago, Tunisian theatre director Fadhel Jaibi warns against the rise of the Islamists. But according to Sarah Mersch, "Tsunami" lacks the subtle analysis so characteristic of his earlier productionsMore

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Fleeing war-torn Syria, painter Majd Kara found himself in Lithuania where half the population says they refuse to help asylum-seekers. Now holding his second exhibition, Kara is changing the country's attitude. By Karolis Vysniauskas